The Polytechnical Institute of Gutonia, aka Ecole Polytechnique (Ay-cole Poly-tek-neek)

This school, founded in the 4440s, was unique in that it started a trend of publishing lectures from university scholars for free. Essentially, you had to be male to attend, but anyone could read the course work. It is this school's lectures that foster Ziele's desire to pursue education (along with finding a golem in her/their garden, but that's a different matter entirely). Needing a boy to get in for her to test her scientific theories, she teams up with a young thief who not only discovers his own nerdiness but also becomes her best friend (and later true love). It is home to some of the brightest, most innovative young minds of the modern (4500s) age.

Purpose / Function

To foster engineers and scientists for the empire, provide some magical training to young (and rich and male) students who previously had no such access to it, and to be a school for young teenagers and new adults who actually have an academic ambition instead of just wanting to party for a year during their Great Tour. Unlike other universities that opened earlier, graduates of this establishment rarely enter a religious order and daily prayer is not compulsory

Alterations

There was a military school aspect added to the school at the start of the War of the Quadruple Alliance. Mind you, this was only a military school for those who were enrolled in the school, so no (known) poor draftees into the war were eligible. Also, non-Gutonian citizens do not have to go through military service. Over the years, the outer walls of the school have been built up to keep out the mutated animals (mutated because of climate change and Yulia's magic) that stalk the surrounding landscape. Originally, students gained rank if they killed one of these animals while wandering the grounds, but after Erymanthean boars nearly gored a group of second-years to death, it was decided that "kill or be killed" wasn't so much a badge of honor but a consolation prize from a sick lottery in a sick landscape.

History

Unlike other universities that opened earlier, graduates of this establishment rarely enter a religious order and daily prayer is not compulsory

Founding Date

4440

Alternative Names

The Paris College

Type

College / Academy

Ruling/Owning Rank

Directoire Minister

Owning Organization

The 500/The Cabinets